Sometimes, as we saw yesterday in the case of Lydia, God speaks to people through gentle persuasion, convincing them of the truth of the claims of Christ. Sometimes, He has to do something dramatic and miraculous, as we see today.

And perhaps it took a lot to get through to the Philippian jailer because he was a really tough guy, one who was accustomed to treating other people cruelly for a living. For example, after he left Paul and Silas stiff and sore from their beatings, he made sure they could not stretch and ease their aching legs by putting their feet in stocks. To say he was a hard man was a bit of an understatement.

So what was it that shook him up and brought him to his knees? It wasn’t the earthquake, for as impressive as they are, they are not at all uncommon in that part of the world. It wasn’t even the fact that the earthquake had thrown open the doors of the jail, freeing all the prisoners. No, those things just made him want to kill himself, as he knew he would receive the death penalty if he allowed any of his prisoners to escape.

So, what really got to him? The fact that Paul and Silas, whom he had treated so cruelly, would voluntarily remain in custody just so that he would not be punished. Their selfless act thus proved that these men who had been praying and singing songs of praise to God from their prison cell weren’t crazy after all – they were somehow full of love even for vicious, hardened sinners like him. He just couldn’t make sense of how anyone would choose to suffer so that a sinful stranger might be saved.

But of course that’s exactly what Jesus did. He gave up all the glories and pleasures of Heaven to take on human flesh and enter into our sinful world. He allowed Himself to be beaten and crucified and killed and placed in a tomb. And He did all that so that what Paul and Silas said in verse 31 could be true – so that sinners like us could trust in Him and His atoning sacrifice and be saved from our sins.

And that’s still the best way to convince skeptical, cynical, hardened people of the truth and love of Christ – to show that kind of self-sacrificial, unconditional love to them. That’s what seems to have made a difference for this Philippian jailer. Will we show that kind of love to others today?

Acts 16:16-34 (ESV)

16 As we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who had a spirit of divination and brought her owners much gain by fortune-telling.
17 She followed Paul and us, crying out, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to you the way of salvation.”
18 And this she kept doing for many days. Paul, having become greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And it came out that very hour.
19 But when her owners saw that their hope of gain was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace before the rulers.
20 And when they had brought them to the magistrates, they said, “These men are Jews, and they are disturbing our city.
21 They advocate customs that are not lawful for us as Romans to accept or practice.”
22 The crowd joined in attacking them, and the magistrates tore the garments off them and gave orders to beat them with rods.
23 And when they had inflicted many blows upon them, they threw them into prison, ordering the jailer to keep them safely.
24 Having received this order, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks.
25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them,
26 and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone’s bonds were unfastened.
27 When the jailer woke and saw that the prison doors were open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped.
28 But Paul cried with a loud voice, “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here.”
29 And the jailer called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas.
30 Then he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
31 And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.”
32 And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house.
33 And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds; and he was baptized at once, he and all his family.
34 Then he brought them up into his house and set food before them. And he rejoiced along with his entire household that he had believed in God.